Truss.



W. GROSS & E- Z. WELLMAN. TRUSS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20. 1914.

Patented May 18, 1915.

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l/VILLIAlVI GROSS AND ESQUIRE Z. WELLMAN, 015 SPARTA, MICHIGAN.

TRUSS.

Application filed June 20, 191 1.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM GRoss and Esounzn Z. WVELLMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Sparta, in the county of Kent, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Truss, of which the following is a specification.

Tl e device forming the subject matter of this application is a truss, and one object of the present invention is to provide a novel means whereby, in a device of the type above mentioned, the back pads will be held securely upon the spring at the point of juncture between the back strip of the spring and the upwardly arched, forwardly extended arms thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the connecting element which unites the free ends of the arms is adjustably but firmly held upon the arms.

1V ith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without cleparting from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 shows in perspective, a truss embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view depicting the rear face of one of the back pads and attendant parts; Fig. 3 is an elevation wherein one of the back pads is viewed at right angles to the showing of Fig. 2; Fig. at is a sectional detail illustrating one of the front pads and attendant parts; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one of the front pads.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a spring comprising a back strip 1 and upwardly arched, forwardly extended arms 2 connected with the ends of the back strip 1. Back pads 8 are provided and each pad 3 includes a body 1 which may be made of cork, and a facing 5 which may be made of cloth or the like. The pads 41 cover the angles defined by the back strip 1 and the arms 2. Securing devices which may be clips 6 bridge the arms 2 and the back strip 1 and are held to the pad 4 through the medium of attaching elements 7 of any desired form.

Owing to the construction above de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1915.

Serial No. 846,348.

scribed, the angles defined by the back strip 1 and the arms 2 are covered by the pads 1. It is to be observed that owing to the positions of the clips 6, each back pad 41 cannot move either longitudinally of the back strip 3 or longitudinally of the side arm 2. The back pads are so placed that they may be located low down and will not impose a strain upon the back of the wearer.

Each front or rupture retaining pad is a composite structure and includes a body 8 and a face plate 9 applied thereto, the face plate 9 being held in place by securing elements 10 such as screws. Located in the body portion 8 of the pad to the rear of the plate 9 is a recess 11. A stud 12 passes through the plate 9 and is provided with a head 11 which is journaled in the recess 11. In the stud 12 is a transverse opening 22 through which passes one end of the corresponding arm 2. A screw or other clamping means 15 is threaded into the end of the stud l2 and engages the end of the arm 2 to hold the same in place. Obviously, by loosening the screw 15, the stud 12 and the front pad may be raised and lowered on the forward lower end of the arm 2 and, if desired, the body portion 8 of the pad may be rotated axially, for adjustment, and be held in position when the screw is tightened.

A connecting element 23 is provided for uniting the free ends of the arms 2, this connecting element ordinarily being in the form of a strap. The strap 23 comprises two members, united by a buckle 16. 1n each member of the strap 28 there is formed a loop 17 which passes around the free end of one arm 2. It is to be observed, referring specifically to Fig. 61 that when the screw 15 is tightened and when the end of the arm 2 is crowded inwardly, the loop 17 of the strap is bound between the end of the arm and the pad. The strap 23, therefore, cannot lose its position and move vertically.

The back strip 1 of the spring and the arms 2 are surrounded by a covering 20. Noting Fig. 1 it will be seen that the end 21 of the covering 20 is spaced above the upper edge of the loop 16 in the strap 23. The covering 20, therefore, serves to prevent the loops 16 of the strap from sliding upwardly beyond a predetermined point, should the screws 15 be loosened, and at the same time, since the lower ends 21 of the covering 20 are spaced apart from the upper edges of the straps 16, a slight vertical strip and upwardly and forwardly eXtend- 7 ed, arched arms connected with the ends of the back strip; a pad; a stud on the pad and provided with an opening receiving one arm and of greater diameter than the arm whereby the arm may be moved toward and away from the pad; a movable member in the stud and engagingthe arm to move the arm toward the pad; a connecting element uniting the arms and extended between said arm and the'pad and bound between said arm and the pad by the action of the movable member upon the arm. 7

2. In a truss, a spring comprising a back strip and upwardly arched, forwardly extended arms connected with the ends of the back strip; a pad; a stud on the pad and provided with. an opening receiving one arm and of greater diameter than said arm whereby the arm may be moved toward and away from the pad; a movable member in the stud and engaging'the arm to move the arm toward the pad; a connecting element extended between the arms and prolonged between the said arm and the pad and bound between said arm and the pad by the action of the movable member upon the arm; a covering on the spring and spaced from the upper edge of the connecting element, whereby the connecting elementfmay be adjusted vertically when the movable member is loosened, the covering being bound between said arm and the pad by the action of the movable member upon the said arm.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto afiiXed our signatures 1n the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM Gnoss.

Witnesses A. B. CHENEY, C. A. I-IANFORD,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

mark ESQUIRE Z. WELLMAN. 

